Convenience outlet



Feb.'l8, 1936. e. B. BENANDER CONVENIENCE OUTLET Filed June 29, 1931 Inventor: George B. Bnanden (7% His Attorney.

Patented Feb. 18, 1936 CONVENIENCE OUTLET George B. Bcnander, Yalesville, Conn., assignor to Monowatt Electric Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 29, 1931, Serial No. 547,557 6 Claims. (Cl. 173-330) My invention relates to convenience outlets and more particularly to convenience outlets adapted to be mounted in an outlet box flush with the opening in a wall, floor or the like and providing means for connecting an electrical appliance to the electrical wiring circuit of a building.

An object of my invention is to reduce the cost of manufacturing and assembling of convenience outlets.

My invention will be better understood with reference, tothe detailed description in connection -'with the accompanying drawing and the scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In theaccompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective. view or a convenience outlet completely assembled; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a convenience outlet in perspective looking toward the rear-of the outlet; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view the end of the convenience outlet; and Fig. 4 is a detailed view partly in section of a recess in the body member with a contact clip in position;

l0 indicates a double convenience outlet with a body member formed of molded insulating material in whichthe metal parts are secured by force fits in recesses provided in the body member; The insulatin material used in forming the body member may be a phenolic condensation product or other tough non-frangible material. To provide for the connection of two attachment'caps to the convenience outlet l0, parallel slots l2, l3, and l4, l5 are provided in body member H. In order to adapt the convenience outlet for the reception of polarized attachment caps slots l3 and I5 are made longer than the corresponding slots l2 and I4. Thus an attachment cap having one blade wider than the other blade can only be connected to the convenience outlet l0 so that the grounded side of the attachinent cap will be connected to the grounded side of the convenience outlet. A non-polarized attachment cap may also be connected to the convenience outlet as the slots l2 and I4 are the standard size to receive the blades of such attachment caps. To provide for the connection of a face plate or cover plate an opening I6 is provided in the center of body member registering witha threaded aperture in the supporting strap.

To support the convenience outlet in an outlet box, a strap i1 is provided and adapted to seat in a channel l8 in body member H. To anchor strap I! in the body member ll, columns I9 are provided integral with the body member and located 'in the channel l8. To cooperate with the anchoring columns I! apertures 20 with serrated edges are provided in the strap l'l. When the strap I1 is forced into position in the channel ll the serrated edges of the apertures 20 bite into the sides of colunms I9. To insure a firm fit of the strap Il in position in the body member shoulders 2| and 22 are provided at either end of the strap to engage the end faces 23 and 24 respectively of the extension 01' body member 5 The distance between shoulders 2| and 22 is made slightly less than the distance between the end faces 23 and 24 so that the shoulders bite into the insulating material as the strap I1 is forced into position. To secure the convenience l0 outlet l0 in an outlet box by means of a strap oblong openings 52 are provided .at either end of strap l1 and permit the insertion of screws to engage threaded apertures provided in the outlet box. The openings 52 are made oblong to give some leeway in the positioning of the convenience outlet in the outlet box. To provide for thesecuring of a face plate or cover plate to the convenience outlet after it has been located in an outlet box a threaded aperture 53 is provided in strap I1 and located to register with the opening l6 in the body when the strap I1 is in position in the body member.

' For making electrical connection with the 25 and 23 and an electrical conductor a contact strip 3| is provided consisting of a flat strip with a centrally depending section having an ear extending at right angles which cooperates with a shoe 29 and a binding screw 30 to hold a conductor in position in electrical contact with the contact strip 3i. Similarly, contact clips 21 and 28 are connected by means of a contact strip 3| a. The contact clips are adapted to be seated in the body member in'recesses 32, 33, 34, and formed by extensions of the body member. To permit the mounting of the contact clips in position in the recesses with the top of the connectors 3| and 3| 9. flush with the end of the extensions of body member slots 36, 31, 38, and 39 are provided at the inner end of the extensions communicating with the recesses 32, 33, 34, and 35 respectively. Slots 40 and 4| are provided for the insertion of the binding screws connected to the contact strips 3| and 3 la and rectangular recesses 42 and 43 are provided for the location of nuts on the end of the binding screws. The contact clips 25, 26 and 21, 28 are fomied integral with the contact strips 3| and 3's, respectively by turning up a portion of the depending ends of the contact strip. To secure the contact clips 25, 26, 21, and 28 in position in the recesses 32, 33, 34, and 35, respectively, serrations 54 are provided on both edges of the flat portion of the contact clips connected to the contact strips. The part which is serrated is that which issituated between the connector 3| and the yielding or contact-making clip. The yielding or contact 60 making clip is less in width than the part which is serrated so that it may move easily within the recess in which the contact clip is secured. These serrated edges bite into the walls of the recesses as the contact clips and contact strips are forced into position. The serrations are made like the teeth of a saw with the angular edge of the tooth presented to the insulating material as the clips are forced into position. Due to the thin gauge of metal used in the clips the teeth are bent up slightly as the clips are forced down. When an attempt is made to pull the clips out the teeth tend to straighten out and dig into the insulating material thus preventing their removal.

To cover the rear of the convenience outlet ll after the contact clips and strap have been secured in the body member II, a plate of insulating material 46 is provided conforming with the general configuration of the, rearward extensions of body member ll. Apertures 41 are provided in insulating plate 46 to communicate with openings 48 in the columns I9. To secure the plate 44 in position pins 48 are provided having serrated shanks 50 and reduced extensions 5|. Pins 44 secure the plate 46 in position when forced into position in openings 48 of columns l9.

As better indicated in Fig. 3, when a plug with projecting blades is connected to the convenience outlet, the blades extend into the recesses 33, 34, contacting with the contact clips 26, 21 and forcing the turned up ends of the contact clips away from the central walls of the recesses. Forcing the resilient contacts away from the central walls creates a contact pressure between the resilient contacts and the blade projections of the plug making a good electrical connection between the blades and contacts. The position of the contact clip 20 in the recess 34 with its serrated edges engaging the walls of the recesses is well indicated in Fig. 4.

When the convenience outlet is manufactured, the insulating body member II is molded and the contact clips, strap and insulating plate are separately formed. To assemble the parts the contact clips 25, 26, 21, and 24 are located in position above the openings of recesses 32, u. 84,

and 35 respectively and the strap I1 is located in position over channel ll with the openings 20 registering with the columns ll. The contact clips and strap are then forced into position, their serrated edges biting into the insulating material. The contact clips and strap may be forced into position in any convenient manner. It may be desirable when such devices are manufactured in large quantities to utilize a press to force them into position. Insulating plate 46 is then located in position over the rear of body member i l with its apertures 41 registering with the openings 48 in columns [9. Pins 49 are placed in position over the openings 48 with their reduced extensions II extending into the openings to hold them in position. Pins 48 are then forced home, their serrated shanks biting into the insulating mate rial of channels I9. The assembly of the convenience outlet is thus completed and it is ready for installation in position.

In accordance with my invention, a convenience outlet is provided consisting of few parts with the metal parts held rigidly in position in the molded body member by force fits. The design of the parts of the convenience outlet makes it possible to assemble them in two major operations, that is, by the forcing of the contact clips and strap in position and the securing or the plate to the rear of the convenience outlet. For purposes of illustration a double convenience outlet is shown in the drawing but it is quite obvious that the same construction and method of assembly may be utilized in the manufacture of a single convenience outlet.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A convenience outlet comprising a body member of insulating material having rearward extensions forming spaced recesses and anchoring columns, contact clips seated in said recesses and having serrated edges engaging the side walls of said recesses and holding the contact clips in position, a supporting strap having apertures with serrated edges engaging the anchoring columns of said body member, aninsulating plate covering the rear of said body member, and pins with serrated shanks engaging openings in the body member and holding the insulating plate in position.

2. A convenience outlet comprising a body member of insulating material having a central channel with hollow cylindrical columns and spaced recesses, contact clips having serrated edges engaging the walls of the recesses, a supporting strap with openings with serrated edges engaging the cylindrical columns and seating in the base of the central channel of said body member, a plate of insulating material for covering the rear of said body member and serrated pins engaging the openings in the columns to secure the insulating plate to the rear of said body member.

3. A convenience outlet comprising a body member of insulating material having rearward extensions forming spaced recesses, fiat contact strips with depending ends bent up to form contact clips, serrated edges adjacent the bent up ends of said contact strips embedded in the insulating material for securing the contact clips in said recesses, and a supporting strap secured to said body member.

4. A double convenience outlet comprising a body member of insulating material having rearward extensions forming spaced recesses, fiat contact strips with depending ends bent-up to form contact clips, serrated edges on a portion of the contact clips adjacent to and wider than the bent up ends embedded in the insulating material for securing the contact clips in said recesses, and a supporting strap secured to said body member.

5. A double convenience outlet comprising a body member of insulating material having rearward extensions forming spaced recesses, fiat contact strips, contact clips integral with and depending from the ends of said contact strips, a

portion of said contact clips having serrated edges for securing said contact clips in said recesses by force fits, a portion of said contact clips of less width and extending at an angle to the remainder of the contact clips, and a supporting strap secured to said body member.

6. A double convenience outlet comprising a body member of insulating material having rearward extensions forming spaced recesses, fiat contact strips, contact clips integral with said contact strips and having a portion wider than the remainder of the contact clips with serrated edgesfor securing the contact clips in said recesses by force fits, and a supporting strap secured to said body member.

' GEORGE B. BENANDER. 

